Members of the Institute for Spirituality and Health began its mission in 1955 at the Texas Medical Center to serve individuals’ spiritual needs, including communities affected by health disparities and individuals at the end of life.

The institute, an independent and interfaith organization, spent 70 years providing education, research and programming that addresses the connection between spirituality and well-being, according to a news release.

Programs include:

  • The Greater Houston Healing Collaborative where facilitators lead free, virtual mind-and-body skill workshops
  • The Interfaith Spiritual Care Coalition that trains hospice and palliative care volunteers
  • Virtual bereavement group
  • Sound healing sessions for veterans
Gena Davis leads a sound healing session at the Heroic Self Care Veterans Retreat in 2023 that was hosted by the Institute for Spirituality and Health at the Texas Medical Center. (Courtesy The Institute for Spirituality and Health at the Texas Medical Center)
Gena Davis leads a sound healing session at the Heroic Self Care Veterans Retreat in 2023 that was hosted by the Institute for Spirituality and Health at the Texas Medical Center. (Courtesy The Institute for Spirituality and Health at the Texas Medical Center)

The celebration

A platinum jubilee evening event to mark the anniversary will take place May 1 from 6-8 p.m. at Helix Park in the Texas Medical Center. The event will feature speakers and performances to highlight the organization’s founding principle, or what the organization calls 'the fundamental spiritual nature of every human being.'

The keynote speaker will be Lisa Miller, clinical scientist and founder of the Spirituality Mind Body Institute at Columbia University in New York. The event is open to supporters, healthcare professionals, faith leaders and community members, according to the release. More event information, including registration, can be found on this website.

Quote of note

Vice President of Engagement Leah Adams Pruitt said in a news release true healing is incomplete without addressing the spiritual dimension of health and human life.

“We strive to create spaces for healing and connection, ensuring that spirituality is integrated into healthcare in a way that uplifts and supports people, especially those who are most in need. As we celebrate this milestone, we reaffirm our commitment to this work and look forward to the future of compassionate care,” Pruitt said.